This news is something that give hope for those fighting to keep control of their material and obtain the full benefit from their own work.
http://www.courant.com/entertainment/music/hc-barnraising.artjul27,0,3933763.storyIt's a standard deal: You sign a contract with a record label, which lends you money to make a record, and unless you're unusually successful, you spend the rest of your career paying it back.
Mark Erelli was disenchanted with the standard deal. After funding five albums more or less the same way — by borrowing money, either from his label, Signature Sounds, or from friends and investors — the Boston folk singer tried a new way of paying for his latest record: He asked his fans to chip in.
Fan-funded albums are the latest variation on do-it-yourself recording for smaller acts keen on making a professional-quality album while avoiding some of the entanglements of the record industry. By paying for albums without borrowing from a label, artists have complete creative control and retain ownership of the songs. The model has worked so far: From folk to indie-rock to metal, musicians have raised tens of thousands of dollars by appealing to their listeners for help
New York singer-songwriter Jill Sobule also offered prizes to fans who donated, from a digital download for a $10 contribution to admission to her concerts in 2008 for $200 to getting to sing on her new CD for a $10,000 donation. She raised $75,000 in just 53 days between January and March this year, which paid for studio time and will also help fund marketing and distribution of the record and, maybe, touring.
News like this is excellent, the days of the middleman deciding who gets to be heard and raking in 90% of the revenue are over I hope, I,m sure you all agree with me this is the new internet model artists should aspire to, if the folks like your music then they will dip into their pockets.
